We asked our Facebook Fans this question last weekend and the Night Tour was the overwhelming favorite.

With that, we thought we’d share some fun facts about the NYC Night Tour:

• The bus stops at the Brooklyn Fulton Ferry Landing for a photo opportunity of the Manhattan Skyline
• Over 500 people took the Night Tour last December
• The tour is escorted, which means you’ll get to see all the sights and sounds of NYC in just under 3 hours

PS – Huge thanks and photo credit to Marek, last year’s CitySights NY “The Love Bus” winner, for capturing this amazing picture on his tour.

Feel free to watch this video to learn more about the Night Tour:

If you could only take one NYC tour, which one would you take?

Surprisingly, the majority of recommendations were for popular barbeque restaurants in Times Square!

Mmmm… well I must say, I definitely think the fans got it right. Along with our New York-style pizza, bagels and cheesecake, New Yorkers also hold a special (secret) place in their heart for finger lickin’ good barbeque.

With that, let’s dive into our fan’s top NYC restaurant choices and even a few of our own!

Our Facebook Fan’s Favorite NYC Restaurants:

Times Square - Stops #1-5

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. – If you’ve ever seen the movie “Forrest Gump,” you’ve probably heard of this extremely fun and family-friendly Seafood Restaurant. If you’re a Tom Hanks fan, make sure to bring your camera along and take pictures of the quirky movie props scattered throughout the restaurant.

Cafe Metro – Craving a healthy and simple lunch? Cafe Metro has everything from hearty soups, fresh salads and flavorful sandwiches. There are multiple locations throughout the city, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled!

Dallas BBQ – Pop in Dallas BBQ and try a Texas Size Frozen Drink for just $7.99. You can even ask the bartender to mix and match drink flavors including: Margarita, Strawberry Daiquiri and Pina Colada.

Famous Dave’s BBQ - Restaurants in Times Square can definitely fall on the pricier side, but after careful investigation, we discovered that Famous Dave’s BBQ has one of the cheapest Happy Hours around! Weekdays from 3:00pm -7:00pm, stop by for Happy Hour which includes: $3 Large Margaritas, $3 Draft Beers, $4 House Wines and $5 Martinis.

Maxi’s BBQ – Facebook fan Catriona recommended Maxi’s BBQ Restaurant in Times Square, but sadly, we couldn’t locate their website. Maybe it’s a top secret location? Hmmm we will have to investigate a bit more. We’re intrigued!

Planet Hollywood – Located in the heart of Times Square, Planet Hollywood is an extremely fun dining experience for the entire family. Order an appetizer of their World Famous Chicken Crunch– it will seriously change your life.

Red Lobster - Confession: We are slightly addicted to the Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits. Yum.

Ruby Tuesday - While the menu of this Times Square location doesn’t have the majority of items you’re used to, the prices are basically the same. Headed for the salad bar? Make sure to request a table upstairs on the second level.

Virgil’s Real BBQ – Craving BBQ? Visit Virgil’s and check out their amazing menu of Memphis pork spare ribs, Texas sliced beef brisket, whole barbecued chickens, Carolina pulled pork shoulder and more.

Coney Island - Stop #17 and then hop-on board the MTA’s F Train to Coney Island.

Nathan’s Famous – Established in 1916, Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island is best known for their world famous beef hotdogs and the Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest every 4th of July. Not sure what to order? We recommend their classic Hot Dog with chili, red onions and sauerkraut. The bun can get a little crumbly, so make sure to grab quite a few napkins.

Greenwich Village – Stop #11

John’s Pizza – If you’re a fan of brick oven pizza, you’ll fall instantly in love with this Greenwich Village local hot spot. Make sure to arrive early in the day because the line of hungry customers can get quite long around dinner time. Established in 1929, the folks at John’s Pizza know how to make a mean pizza pie.

Chipotle – You can spot this Mexican Grill at multiple locations throughout the city. Try the Burrito Bowl for a healthy, satisfying lunch.

Upper East Side – Stop #39

Serendipity 3 – In the mood for a whimsical dining experience? This quaint and cozy restaurant is best known for its appearance in the movie “Serendipity” and their extremely tasty Frrrozen Hot Chocolates. The reservation line can get quite long, so make sure to put your name in early and grab a seat on the bench outside. Local tip: Try the Peanut Butter Frrrozen Hot Chocolate for a delicious twist on their classic treat!

East Harlem - Stop #34

Milk Burger – If you’re looking for a great burger, Milk Burger in East Harlem is seriously worth the trip. Order the Milk Burger with a side of Sweet Potato Fries glazed with Truffle Oil. Love at first bite.

Barclay Bar & Grill – Staying in the InterContinental New York Barclay? Make sure to pop in the hotel lobby and grab a drink at the Bar & Grill. Facebook Fan Lynda recommends sipping on Bailey’s before heading out for a night on the town!

Brooklyn – Stop #17 and then take the MTA’s B Train to DeKalb Avenue.

Junior’s Cheesecake – While visiting New York City, you absolutely must try these four things: New York style pizza, a bagel, Black and White Cookie and of course, cheesecake. Founded in 1950, Junior’s is often called New York City’s best cheesecake. Did you know their original Brooklyn location grew so popular, the restaurant opened two additional Manhattan shops? Feel free to visit these additional locations in Grand Central Station and Times Station.

Peter Luger Steakhouse – Serving steaks since 1877, Peter Luger Steakhouse is the place to go for a hearty meal in New York City. While you’re at it, try an appetizer of their famous Sizzling Bacon.

Stella Di Sicilia Bakery – Although a Cuban Sandwich may not top your NYC Foodie List, this Brooklyn Bakery knows how to bake their bread just right. Local Tip: Order a bag of pastries to-go and nibble on them throughout your travels.

Our Favorite NYC Restaurants:

Bagel Express – Looking for the perfect bagel? Hop-off at Stop #35 on the Uptown Tour and wander over to this cozy Upper East Side breakfast spot known for their freshly baked hearty bagels. Local tip: Order the $5.95 Omelette Platter that includes hash browns, your favorite bagel with cream cheese and a cup of coffee.

Big Gay Ice Cream – Seriously. The. Best. Ice. Cream. Ever. Follow Big Gay Ice Cream on Twitter to hunt down their food truck or pop in their new East Village location for the most creative ice cream of your life. Shannon, our Community Manager, recommends the Salty Pimp ice cream cone made with Vanilla Ice Cream, Dulce de Leche, Sea Salt and Chocolate Dip.

Halal Guys – You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Chicken Over Rice from the Halal Guys on 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. Order the Chicken Platter with extra white sauce and a dash of hot sauce. You’re welcome.

Shake Shack - If we could only direct you to one location, it’d probably be Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. Located at Stop #7 on the Downtown Tour, Shake Shack is best known for their high quality ingredients and 100% All Natural Angus Beef burgers. Local Tip: Wander here around 10pm on a chilly winter night — the line won’t be as long. Order a ShackBurger and a side of Crinkle Fries to make your taste buds happy little campers.

The Meatball Shop – An entire restaurant based on meatballs? Oh yes. What we love about this local foodie hot spot is their white erase menu that allows guests to completely customize their order! If it’s their special for the day, make sure to order the Buffalo Chicken Balls with Blue Cheese over Freshly-Milled Polenta.

Union Square Green Market – Stroll through this lively market and sample fresh local foods from farms in the surrounding New York City area. Local Tip: Try the various types of apple slices, fresh berry jams and freshly baked Beer Bread. Yup, you read that correctly.

Our NYC Restaurant To-Do List

With new restaurants popping up throughout the city each week, here are a few we’ve always been meaning to try:

• Flea Market Cafe
• Cowgirl Seahorse
• The River Cafe 
• Pastis
• Tasty Dumpling

Your turn! What are you favorite NYC Restaurants?

In 2005, the Top of the Rock Observation Deck opened to provide locals and visitors alike the chance to experience the city’s incredible sights and sounds from the 70th Floor.

Located at Stop #23, Top of the Rock is one of our favorite places to hop-off, escape the bustling city streets and gaze out at the magical twinkling skyline.

How To Win 2 Free Tickets to Top of the Rock:

1. ‘Like’ CitySights NY on Facebook

2. Write directly on our Facebook Wall why you want to go to the Top of the Rock!

Enter by: Friday, January 13, 2012 at Noon EST. We’ll randomly select two (2) winners who will each receive a pair of tickets for themselves and a guest.

Good luck!

—-

You may also purchase Top of the Rock tickets here.

If you’re visiting New York City for the 85th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, please check our route updates below:

DOWNTOWN 50^th Street

• Start at 50^th Street
• 8^th Ave up to 51^st Street
• Left turn onto 51^st Street to 9^th Ave.
• Left turn onto 9^th Ave to 41^st St Stop
• 9^th Ave to 34^th St Stop
• 9^th Ave to 23^rd St.
• Left on 23^rd to 7^th Ave
• Right turn on 7^th continue with regular route.

DOWNTOWN 47^th Street

• Start at 47^th Street & Broadway
• Broadway to 47^th Street
• 47^th to 9^th Ave.
• Left turn onto 9^th Ave to 41^st St Stop
• 9^th Ave to 34^th St Stop
• 9^th Ave to 23^rd St.
• Left on 23^rd to 7^th Ave
• Right turn on 7^th continue with regular route.

UPTOWN from 42^nd and 8^th Avenue

• 42^nd Street
• 8^th Ave to 52^nd St STOP
• 52^nd St to 55^th Street
• Left on 55^th St. to 10^th Ave
• Right turn on 10^th to 72^nd St and Amsterdam STOP
• Amsterdam to 79^th St. STOP
• Amsterdam to 112^th continue with regular route to Grants Tomb.
• Once you leave Grants Tomb go across 122^nd to Amsterdam
• Right turn onto Amsterdam
• Amsterdam to 110^th
• make a left turn heading to Columbus Ave
• Right onto Columbus Ave
• Stop at 79^th & Columbus, 72^nd & Columbus
• Columbus to 9^th Ave to 42^nd
• Make a left on 42^nd to starting point.

New York City is gradually transforming into a winter wonderland with bustling holiday shops, festive window displays and magical twinkling lights.

On November 28th, CitySights NY’s Night Tour transforms into the Lights of the Holiday Tour for the Winter Season.

To celebrate this new tour, we’ve teamed up with Times Square Alliance to giveaway 2 tickets for their FREE FRIDAY contest.

To enter, make sure to “Like” CitySights NY and Times Square NYC on Facebook and then enter the Trivia Question on their website

Click here to enter.

The finish line bleachers and inspiring posters have popped up all over the city!

With over 45,000 incredible runners taking over the streets of New York that Sunday, our double-decker tour buses will have a few route adjustments.

CitySights NY Route Updates for Sunday, November 6th:

UPTOWN TOUR:

• Start 47^th & 8^th Ave
• Continue up 8^th Ave to 57^th St.
• Left on 57^th St. to 10^th Ave
• Right on 10^th Ave to 72^nd St.
• Right on 72^nd  then regular route to Apollo Theater/125^th St
• Then make right on Adam Clayton Powell Jr to 110^th to Columbus Ave.
• Left on Columbus Ave to 9^th Ave
• Continue on 9^th Ave to 42^nd St
• Left on 42^nd St. to 8^th Ave to 47^th St

DOWNTOWN TOUR:

• Start on 47^th and 7^th Ave
• Regular route until Rockefeller then continue on 49^thto 6^th Ave
• Right on 6^th Ave to 57^th St
• Left on 57^th ST. to 7^th Ave
• Left on 7^th Ave to Times Square

If we have any last minute route updates, we will post them to our Official Facebook Page.

50 Cent announced to his fans Wednesday afternoon on Twitter that he’d be in Times Square in 30 minutes and sure enough, he was!

From the top-deck of the bus, 50 Cent promoted his new Energy Drink, Street King. All of the proceeds from his new drink go directly towards ending poverty and hunger in Africa.

His goal is to feed 1 Billion People in Africa. Pretty amazing, right?

You can learn more about his initiative here.

Music blasted from the top of the bus as it turned the corner towards Times Square and crowds quickly gathered when they learned that 50 Cent was on board.

The Street King Street Team, Models and 50 Cent himself passed out free samples of his new energy drink, t-shirts and hats to the excited fans below.

Click here to view more pictures from the event on our Facebook Album.

We love you, but sometimes it’s great to escape your tremendous skyscrapers to explore the surrounding states.

This weekend, I had that exact plan in mind and hopped on a bus to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Yay road trip!

Roughly 80 miles from the Big Apple, Philly was the “meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the nation’s Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and the Constitution on September 17, 1787.” (source)

Because I had never been to Philly before, I was extremely surprised that certain aspects of the city really resembled NYC!

For example:

Doesn’t the building on the left look like Grand Central Terminal and the building on the right resemble the Chrysler Building?

Obviously I’ve been in NYC a bit too long to be making these references!

The gorgeous, castle-like building is actually the Philadelphia City Hall and the skyscraper is called Liberty Place.

Philly also somewhat follows the NYC “Grid System” — the Street numbers increase the further West you walk. For example they read: 14th Street, 13th Street, 12th Street, etc. This layout is super easy to navigate if you hop-off the bus to explore the city!

Reading Terminal Market is a popular farmer’s market in the heart of the city known for their fresh produce, baked goods and of course… Philly Cheesesteaks.

Highly recommend the Roast Pork Cheesesteak with Greens from Tommy Dinic’s!

Add some banana peppers & spicy mustard to your sandwich and it will seriously change your life.

Yum!

What I also absolutely loved about Philly were the multiple public fountains scattered throughout the city.

As you can see, they were just about on every street corner!

Other places of interest in Philly:

• Liberty Bell
• Independence Hall
• Laid back restaurants and bars along 13th Street
• Gorgeous running path along Kelly Drive

Interested in day trips from NYC?

Click here to check out our Philadelphia and Amish Country Tour from New York City.

Did you know: On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the United States. 125 years later, she’s receiving a makeover!

What Renovations are they making?

Via the New York Times:

The Park Service said the project would involve updating the statue’s mechanical and electrical systems, along with its fire-suppression equipment. The two open staircases will be separated from each other,  and one will get walls, a plus for safety. The elevator that runs from the ground floor to the fifth floor will be replaced and will ascend and descend in a new, fire-resistant shaft.

If you’re visiting NYC during Lady Liberty’s renovation, Liberty Island [where she stands tall] will remain open.

How can you still see the Statue of Liberty?

Although the inside of the statue will close, you can still get amazing pictures standing at her feet looking up! Ferries will continue to shuttle guests from Manhattan to Liberty Island for this breathtaking site.

CitySights NY Tour packages that include the Statue of Liberty:

• Downtown Tour + Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• Statue of Liberty Ferry + Top of the Rock
• Statue of Liberty Ferry + Empire State Building

Have you ever been to the top of the Statue of Liberty?

Whether you’re on the Uptown Treasures & Harlem Tour or the Downtown Tour, Central Park is never more than a few blocks away.

Yup, we’re a little obsessed with it.

Here are a few of our favorite places to explore in Central Park:

Hop-off and walk the gravel track around the Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir,

Strike a pose in front of Bethesda Fountain which has been featured on Home Alone, Enchanted & many other films.

And then walk up Museum Mile to check out one of New York’s amazing museums:

• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Guggenheim
• The Museum of Modern Art

What’s your favorite area in Central Park?